71 I'm A Nice Person

"Check when I have time in the coming week," replied Raelle as she continued to browse through the content of the file in her hands.

Cloe looked through the scheduler on her iPad before informing Raelle, "You can only spare some time next Friday." She took a pause and added, "And if you want to do the visit earlier than that, you'd have to use up your lunch hour."

"Not happening," was Raelle crisp reply.

"I thought so," answered Cloe. "Then I'll schedule it for next Friday." Since Raelle didn't refute, she continued to make the entry into the scheduler. Of course, she knew that Raelle would never use up her lunch hour for work. If there was a person who followed the three meals rule diligently that would be her boss.

Then she placed over six invitation cards on Raelle's desk as she told her, "These are the invitations you received today." Raelle gave the cards a cursory glance and Cloe went on, "These are the important ones. I have already filtered out the unimportant ones. Which one would you like to go to?"

Although Raelle had only been to this country for six months, her reputation had followed her for far too long. Who didn't want to meet President Raelle at least once? Even if she was literally a devil, who would want to give up the chance to cozy up to her? She'd been receiving such invitations on daily basis and it was rare for her to actually pick any event to attend.

"Just as before, I won't be attending any of it," replied Raelle calmly.

"However, you said that it's better to make acquaintance with a business circle around here. Or at least, people around here should know that you're someone not to be trifled with. And for that purpose, you'd have to actually make an appearance at such events."

Raelle gave Cloe a look as she flipped her pen in her hand, "Do you think these non-related people are important or spending time with my husband is important?"

Cloe made those invitation cards disappear from before her eyes saying, "Obviously, your husband is more important. I'd deal with all this."

Raelle thought about it a bit, "Instead of dealing with it, choose any event of your choice, and make an appearance on my behalf."

Cloe nodded her head in reply, "Yes, Chief." She was done talking but didn't move from her spot as she continued to stare at Raelle. When the latter lifted her eyelashes to gaze at her she added, "I have something important to discuss."

"If you're gonna ask for a day off, save it!" was Raelle's reaction.

"I already know you wouldn't give me a day off," responded Cloe, not sounding like her usual self. And only now Raelle looked at her face carefully. She noticed how Cloe didn't even look like her usual lively self as well. She looked dispirited and adding on those red puffy eyes, she really looked strange.

"Fresh ginger tea?" echoed Cloe with a frown. "You don't drink ginger tea."

"Did I ask for your opinion?" Cloe sighed and left her office to arrange for that ginger tea. After ten minutes when she entered the room with that fresh ginger tea, Raelle looked at her and said, "Sit over there and drink it. It does not only help with the cramps but also helps with that cranky mood."

Cloe pinched her brows as she sighed at Raelle helplessly but still did as she was told. She took a seat on the couch and leaned back to relax as she sipped on the fresh ginger tea. Soon, Raelle joined her there and she asked, "How did you know?"

"You only talk back to me when it's that time of the month for you," replied Raelle as if it was common sense to know that. "Besides, I've spent about six years with you. Isn't it enough to learn how your mood swings work?"

Cloe pressed her lips together and didn't know what to say. She wanted to say thank you to Raelle for being so perceptive but she knew Raelle wouldn't appreciate that thank you.

"So, why did you cry?" inquired Raelle as she continued to observe Cloe's expressions.

"My soup was too salty in the morning," answered Cloe with a straight face.

"Is that something to cry about?"

Cloe shrugged her shoulders, "My hormones thought it was important enough to cry about."

"Why do I think there is more to it than just that?"

Cloe glanced at Raelle's expressionless face and sighed out, "My younger sister called me in the morning."

"For?"

"Apparently to make me feel bad about myself," scoffed Cloe. "I mean if you're having a baby, why do you need to rub it in my face? That might be the milestone of your life at 25 but it wasn't mine! I'm 28 and it's still not my milestone!"

The way her voice raised made Raelle notice that her emotions were surging up. Or should she say her hormones were acting up.

"If that's not your milestone in life, why are you letting her words get to you?"

"Who said her words got to me?" retorted Cloe. "I'm just telling you the process of how things happened. First, she called. Then my soup turned out too salty. Later, I suddenly remembered how from 9 albums, not even a single one had Hyson's photo card! How can I be so unlucky?" She sighed out heavily, "Just that thought made me cry."

"That was some process that led to crying," said Raelle. Although her tone didn't sound sarcastic, her words did. "Anyway, how are you feeling now?"

"I'm eggshell fine," replied Cloe as she rubbed the tip of her nose. "That means I'm currently whole but treat me gently or else I'll break."

"Treat you gently?" Raelle blankly stared at her face. "I'm always nice to everyone."

Cloe wanted to curse her for even saying that. But she didn't do it. "Since you're so nice, how about showing me your husband?"

"Not happening," smiled Raelle which made Cloe shudder.